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Climate Change: The Science and Global Impact

We need to understand the science behind global warming to avoid the most damaging and irreversible climate change impacts on people and planet.

• https://www.edx.org/course/climate-change-the-science-and-global-impact

Estimated 8 weeks | 2–4 hours per week

Self-paced | Progress at your own speed

Free | Optional upgrade available

There is one session available: 24,481 already enrolled! After a course session ends,

Class Begins - Apr 29

Class Ends - Aug 31

Instructor

Michael E. Mann

Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science

Penn State University

• https://michaelmann.net/books/climate-war

What you'll learn

Principles of atmospheric science

Climate data collection and interpretation

Zero-dimensional Energy Balance Models

One-dimensional Energy Balanced Models

General Circulation Models

Carbon emissions scearios

Future climate change projections

Impacts on human systems

Emissions reduction pathways

Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction to Climate and Climate Change

1.0 Course Introduction

1.1 What is climate change

1.2 What should we care about climate change?

1.3 Overview of the climate system: How is the climate system constructed?

1.4 Overview of the climate system: How do energy balances work?

1.5 Overview of the climate system: Global circulation systems

1.6 Other fundamental principles: Feedback mechanisms and the carbon cycle

Module 2: Observing and Measuring Anthropogenic Climate Change

2.1 Changes in atmospheric greenhouse gases

2.2 Modern surface temperature trends

2.3 The oceans

2.4 Extreme weather

2.5 Sea ice, glaciers and global sea level

2.6 Paleoclimate evidence of climate change

Module 3: Modeling the Climate System: The Basics

3.1 Introduction to climate modeling

3.2 Expressing a zero-dimensional energy model as a linear equation

3.3 0d-EBM demonstration

3.4 Estimating climate sensitivity

Module 4: Modeling the Climate System: Advanced

4.1 One-dimensional energy balance models

4.2 Case Study: Using a one-dimensional EBM to model the ice ages

4.3 General circulation models

4.4 Validating climate models

4.5 Detecting climate change

4.6 Interpreting climate sensitivity

Module 5: Carbon Emission Scenarios

5.1 Emissions Scenarios

5.2 Stabilizing CO2 concentrations

Module 6: Applying Climate Models: Projected Changes in the Climate System

6.1 Surface temperature projections

6.2 Projected changes in global precipitation and drought

6.3 Atmospheric and oceanic circulation changes

6.4 The melting cryosphere

6.5 Sea level rise projections

6.6 Tropical cyclone and hurricane projections

6.7 Extreme weather projections

Module 7: Climate Change Impacts: The Future for People and Planet

7.1 Carbon cycle feedbacks

7.2 Sea level rise and coastal impacts

7.3 Ecosystems and biodiversity

7.4 Shifting water and food resources

7.5 Human health impacts

7.6 Security concerns

7.7 Tipping points

Module 8: What Is Our Path Forward?

8.1 Geoengineering: A scientist’s perspective, Part 1

8.2 Geoengineering: A scientist’s perspective, Part 2

8.3 Emissions reductions: The only viable way forward

8.4 Conclusion: A path of hope

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